The Supreme Court of India has accepted a review petition filed by the central government on the ruling by the court ordering the cancellation of 2G telecom licenses in the country.

The apex court had scrapped the validity of quashed all 122 spectrum licenses that were granted to firms during the former communications minister A Raja’s time in office. The court cancelled all the licenses on the ground they were issued in a “totally arbitrary and unconstitutional” manner. It also imposed a fine on three telecom companies that offloaded their shares after getting the licenses.

The union government had filed a 23-page review petition on 3 March claiming that the judgement was in direct conflict with mining laws under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The mining law says that the natural resources can be distributed on the basis of a first-come-first-served (FCFS) policy. The Supreme Court had said that FCFS policy followed by Raja in allocating the licenses was arbitrary and illegal.

The petition is scheduled for hearing before a bench comprising justices G. S. Singhvi and K. S. Radhakrishnan on 13 April.